I'm not sure how to begin this blog, which is strange given how much I talk. But, there's been a lot on my mind lately and it's hard to put it all in order.
I suppose for starters a novel update. My novel is now in it's second edit and it has shrunk to 276 pages. Still about the same word count which is funny due to how much I've cut out (apparently to be replaced by new words). I think once I get done with this edit I'm going to have a few people read it. After those people read it I will be making a LOT of changes to it. I already have some of those changes planned. It's coming along pretty well, but there is a lot to do still.
Along the same lines of writing is Grad School. Which, due to what month in the year it is, will have to wait until Fall 2013 (if we're still around haha). On one hand this is good: I have more time to save money and get all my Grad School application stuff together and make it awesome. On the other hand, I have to wait practically another year. I'm going to go crazy in retail. Hopefully I will have some alternative to crazy pass happily by my way, but it's going to be an interesting year. This past year (May-ish through now) has been extrememly long. Hopefully I can figure out some way to make the next year or so a bit better.
I'm really only applying to a few schools and the one I would really want to go to is University of Iowa. Maybe this summer I will go do a Campus tour just so I can have a valid excuse to request some more time off from work!
Next in line of things that seems to be feeding off each other, I just got back from vacation. I went and spent a little over a week with my Gram and it was a blast. We painted and cleaned the barn and laughed a lot. I also watched a lot of TV (she has DISH) so I was able to catch up on some shows, discover some new ones, and watch a lot of movies including all of the Indiana Jones movies!!!! :D I was a happy camper let me tell you. What I didn't do is probably for the best. I had planned on doing a quick edit on my novel and reading a lot. But, instead, I actually took a vacation. From everything. I didn't think about my novel, I think I read about ten pages in my book, but other than that I pretty much ignored things that I do a lot at home. A proper vacation. And since being back, I worked a grand total of four days and then took an extended weekend to visit some friends at Western. I needed the whole package, exclusion and friend time. I think it'll help get me through this last stretch of HUGE BIG EVERY OTHER DAY SALE season. I might be exaggerating with the every-other-day-thing, but it's at least once a week, sometimes twice. It gets old real fast. Our last really big sale is coming up this weekend and if I can survive that the rest of the summer shouldn't be too bad.
Recently, I've had time to read a lot like I used to. (Finally a slightly more random follow-up topic.) In the past few months, I have gone through all three books in the Hunger Games series as well as the first two books in the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. I'm currently on the third one. I love having time to read again. I have to be conscious of splitting my time between reading and editing, but I think I've got the balance now. I generally read on my lunch break and edit after work.
Hmm. I guess that's all I can think to write for now. I've still got some things running around in my brain but they're too fast for me to catch at the moment, so I'll leave them be. And I also apologize for the lack of any Fey updates recently. I will eventually get back to her and sooner than later. Hopefully. :)
Oh, and April is National Poetry Month. But, instead of picking an American Poet, I just picked an awesome one. Follow the link for the poem in it's entirety and/or to hear it read to you. http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
--An excerpt from Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night
by Dylan Thomas
Scintillate
Monday, April 23, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
It's still March (barely)
Summer weather already! Wow!! That's been nice! I've been riding a lot and the jumping is going very well, I think. I'm still dragging my feet at work, however, a week from tomorrow (Saturday) I will be going to visit my Gram! :D YAY VACATION!! (And a paid one at that! Gotta love that full time status.) Shortly following my little vacation, I will be working about a three and a half day work week followed by a three day weekend with all my friends at Western! (Again, insert excitement here!!)
My novel is coming along nicely and the first readable draft should be coming out for a select few within this next month. I think I'm procrastinating on finishing the first edit because 1) I don't want to be done with this novel as it's so much fun and I love the characters 2) I'm nervous to hear other people's reactions to my story and 3) because I don't really know what I'm going to do once it's done. It's a daunting prospect to shove your 'baby' out into the world to stand on it's own. But, there's a first time for everything, right? Might as well be the first time anyone has ever read the 'complete' version of my story. Actually, to be honest, no one has read any part of this novel because even after I turned in my "final draft" for my creative writing class, I completely re-re-worked the beginning! :D So no one, but me, has ever read any part of my novel. It should be exciting to hear how everyone likes it (or doesn't). Fingers crossed for positive reviews! ;)
Let the countdown till vacation commence! :D
Freedom!
My novel is coming along nicely and the first readable draft should be coming out for a select few within this next month. I think I'm procrastinating on finishing the first edit because 1) I don't want to be done with this novel as it's so much fun and I love the characters 2) I'm nervous to hear other people's reactions to my story and 3) because I don't really know what I'm going to do once it's done. It's a daunting prospect to shove your 'baby' out into the world to stand on it's own. But, there's a first time for everything, right? Might as well be the first time anyone has ever read the 'complete' version of my story. Actually, to be honest, no one has read any part of this novel because even after I turned in my "final draft" for my creative writing class, I completely re-re-worked the beginning! :D So no one, but me, has ever read any part of my novel. It should be exciting to hear how everyone likes it (or doesn't). Fingers crossed for positive reviews! ;)
Let the countdown till vacation commence! :D
Freedom!
Monday, February 27, 2012
2 blog posts for February!
More like just another update, but who's counting.
Anyways, I have now printed my entire novel to edit it and I am now "done" editing 150 pages. This means I have 150 pages left to edit. And then Edit I will be done. Depending on how I feel about the edit is going to determine whether or not I let my first readers read it or if I give it until the end of Edit II before I let anyone lay eyes on my story. We shall see, but so far I think it's looking promising!!
:D
Preamble
Anyways, I have now printed my entire novel to edit it and I am now "done" editing 150 pages. This means I have 150 pages left to edit. And then Edit I will be done. Depending on how I feel about the edit is going to determine whether or not I let my first readers read it or if I give it until the end of Edit II before I let anyone lay eyes on my story. We shall see, but so far I think it's looking promising!!
:D
Preamble
Monday, February 6, 2012
Oh. My. Gosh!
I jsut finished typing my first novel! OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The final total for draft one of the Map Reader is as follows:
300 pages
71,978 words.
NOW TO EDIT THE PANTS OFF THIS NOVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then the next step is to hand it out to my list of first time readers! (excitement and extreme nerves for that moment)
Dreaming!
The final total for draft one of the Map Reader is as follows:
300 pages
71,978 words.
NOW TO EDIT THE PANTS OFF THIS NOVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then the next step is to hand it out to my list of first time readers! (excitement and extreme nerves for that moment)
Dreaming!
Monday, January 30, 2012
This is called a blog.
Here I am!!!! Barely making it to post a real blog in January! Where did it go????? Holy Cow!
So, I'm still typing the novel I finished writing in August. Currently, I'm at 226 pages (double spaced) which is 54,435 words with 69 pages left to type!!! I'm so excited! After I'm done typing I'll print out a copy and then edit the pants off my story (so to speak). Then, after I've got it in a place where I don't think people will run away from it, I'll print out a few more copies and give them to the list of people that I would like to read my novel for the first time EVER!!!! No one has read this story yet. Well, my creative writing class read the first draft of the first chapter, but I've completely re-written that chapter so, essentially, no one has read my novel, still. So, I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the reactions from my first readers.
Concerning my novel that I'm currently writing, I'm at 108 pages which is 28,487 words. I'd say I'm about halfway done with this story! It's a pretty exciting concept really and I hope I can keep my momentum going. I've been working on this novel (or the concept for this novel) since my freshman year of high school. So, it's been a really long time. I wrote myself into a corner and then I tried to go back and make it work, but I've now scrapped the first draft almost entirely and am now doing a lot better with the story. To be honest, I don't think this novel will need as serious of an edit before I let people read it.
In other news, I'm taking riding lessons to learn how to jump. And, once I've got the concept a little better, we are going to teach my horse how to jump (fingers crossed that she enjoys jumping). I'm really excited about learning how to jump because for one thing, it's on my Bucket List. For another thing, I've only wanted to learn how to jump for AGES!!!! So now that I'm learning about it and how to do it, I really like it. I believe I have my genes (*hint *hint: my mother) to thank for that. We took my horse over to the barn where I've been getting lessons yesterday so that we can start whipping her into shape (again . . . it's been a while). I'll be able to go after work and ride her whenever I want because the barn has an indoor arena which is brilliant!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I'm going to be posting a special blog in February for an anti-bullying campaign that has to do with a good friend of mine. I hope you'll read it and pass on the message. :)
Writing-ness
“Have you thought of taking them up on the offer?” Mav said after a while.
Fey didn’t answer. She didn’t want to think about it. It was her mother’s fault
that she had lost every single job that she had managed to get the last eight
attempts. The look on her face must have given something away to Mav because she
couldn’t help smiling at her best friend.
“Fey, listen. I know you blame your mother. And you probably should, but at the
same time I don’t know why you’re running away from this. You’d be brilliant and
you know it. You just don’t want to take what has easily been put in front of
you. They’re practically beating down your door to have you on their team. And no
one’s saying you’d have to work with your mother.”
“You know her though,” interrupted Fey, “She’ll have requested it personally. I
hate how she does that.”
“Okay, think of it this way. Would you rather bounce from pointless, boring job to
even more pointless and more boring and probably as dead-ended as a bleach blonde’s
fried hair job, or,” she held up her hand as Fey tried to interrupt again, “Or,
would you rather be an exciting person again and do something you would enjoy?”
“I’ve thought about it alright? Are you happy? I think about it all the time! It
would be exciting and dangerous and an adventure. I’d be an exciting person again,
but I’d have to work with my mother! Don’t you think that’s a point against the
job? I mean, come on.”
Mav was smiling again as she added another calla lily to the vase. Fey couldn’t
help but smile, too.
“It would be fun,” she admitted.
“I’m just trying to make you see that you’d be happy,” said Mav sympathetically. “I
mean come on, Fey. You haven’t been a happy adventurous person since college.”
“We used to have so much fun,” said Fey sitting down. They spent the rest of the
night reminiscing about college and all the adventures they had, and all the
trouble they almost got into.
As Mav got up to leave, she turned and looked at Fey.
“Just call them tomorrow and see what they’re offering,” she said.
“Okay, okay. Now go home and get to bed so you can get up ridiculously early,”
laughed Fey.
“And don’t forget to call me as soon as you’re off the phone with them. I want to
know everything! Night, Fey!”
The door shut and Fey found herself daydreaming about what it would be like to go
to work to have adventures every day. Granted, she didn’t kid herself into
thinking that every day would be exciting but it would be better than typing
pointless emails to people she would never meet and never cared to meet about some
boring pointless issue that was coming up.
“I will call them,” she said to herself. The finality of her tone made her laugh.
She went about her nightly routine and when she closed her eyes to sleep she felt
excitement well up in her for the phone call tomorrow morning. She smiled, turned
over, and fell asleep.
Taciturn
So, I'm still typing the novel I finished writing in August. Currently, I'm at 226 pages (double spaced) which is 54,435 words with 69 pages left to type!!! I'm so excited! After I'm done typing I'll print out a copy and then edit the pants off my story (so to speak). Then, after I've got it in a place where I don't think people will run away from it, I'll print out a few more copies and give them to the list of people that I would like to read my novel for the first time EVER!!!! No one has read this story yet. Well, my creative writing class read the first draft of the first chapter, but I've completely re-written that chapter so, essentially, no one has read my novel, still. So, I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the reactions from my first readers.
Concerning my novel that I'm currently writing, I'm at 108 pages which is 28,487 words. I'd say I'm about halfway done with this story! It's a pretty exciting concept really and I hope I can keep my momentum going. I've been working on this novel (or the concept for this novel) since my freshman year of high school. So, it's been a really long time. I wrote myself into a corner and then I tried to go back and make it work, but I've now scrapped the first draft almost entirely and am now doing a lot better with the story. To be honest, I don't think this novel will need as serious of an edit before I let people read it.
In other news, I'm taking riding lessons to learn how to jump. And, once I've got the concept a little better, we are going to teach my horse how to jump (fingers crossed that she enjoys jumping). I'm really excited about learning how to jump because for one thing, it's on my Bucket List. For another thing, I've only wanted to learn how to jump for AGES!!!! So now that I'm learning about it and how to do it, I really like it. I believe I have my genes (*hint *hint: my mother) to thank for that. We took my horse over to the barn where I've been getting lessons yesterday so that we can start whipping her into shape (again . . . it's been a while). I'll be able to go after work and ride her whenever I want because the barn has an indoor arena which is brilliant!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I'm going to be posting a special blog in February for an anti-bullying campaign that has to do with a good friend of mine. I hope you'll read it and pass on the message. :)
Writing-ness
“Have you thought of taking them up on the offer?” Mav said after a while.
Fey didn’t answer. She didn’t want to think about it. It was her mother’s fault
that she had lost every single job that she had managed to get the last eight
attempts. The look on her face must have given something away to Mav because she
couldn’t help smiling at her best friend.
“Fey, listen. I know you blame your mother. And you probably should, but at the
same time I don’t know why you’re running away from this. You’d be brilliant and
you know it. You just don’t want to take what has easily been put in front of
you. They’re practically beating down your door to have you on their team. And no
one’s saying you’d have to work with your mother.”
“You know her though,” interrupted Fey, “She’ll have requested it personally. I
hate how she does that.”
“Okay, think of it this way. Would you rather bounce from pointless, boring job to
even more pointless and more boring and probably as dead-ended as a bleach blonde’s
fried hair job, or,” she held up her hand as Fey tried to interrupt again, “Or,
would you rather be an exciting person again and do something you would enjoy?”
“I’ve thought about it alright? Are you happy? I think about it all the time! It
would be exciting and dangerous and an adventure. I’d be an exciting person again,
but I’d have to work with my mother! Don’t you think that’s a point against the
job? I mean, come on.”
Mav was smiling again as she added another calla lily to the vase. Fey couldn’t
help but smile, too.
“It would be fun,” she admitted.
“I’m just trying to make you see that you’d be happy,” said Mav sympathetically. “I
mean come on, Fey. You haven’t been a happy adventurous person since college.”
“We used to have so much fun,” said Fey sitting down. They spent the rest of the
night reminiscing about college and all the adventures they had, and all the
trouble they almost got into.
As Mav got up to leave, she turned and looked at Fey.
“Just call them tomorrow and see what they’re offering,” she said.
“Okay, okay. Now go home and get to bed so you can get up ridiculously early,”
laughed Fey.
“And don’t forget to call me as soon as you’re off the phone with them. I want to
know everything! Night, Fey!”
The door shut and Fey found herself daydreaming about what it would be like to go
to work to have adventures every day. Granted, she didn’t kid herself into
thinking that every day would be exciting but it would be better than typing
pointless emails to people she would never meet and never cared to meet about some
boring pointless issue that was coming up.
“I will call them,” she said to herself. The finality of her tone made her laugh.
She went about her nightly routine and when she closed her eyes to sleep she felt
excitement well up in her for the phone call tomorrow morning. She smiled, turned
over, and fell asleep.
Taciturn
Thursday, January 5, 2012
2011 In Words I Chose (if not a bit randomly)
Happy 2011 Times -Perusing
Here Goes! -Flabbergasted
Dear February, You Crack Me Up! -Thunder
"March Maddness" Is About Right -Eschew
There Went April . . . Ooops! -Revolution
And Here's Mays -Zephyr
Mission Accomplished!! -Accomplishment!
"I need to live a little, have some fun" -Flippant
Wedding, Vacation, Writing ..... Education???? -Agathokakological
On To August -Pistachios
Stuff of September Month -Circumlocution
Oh, It's October, isn't it -Conterminous
Another For November . . . barely -Pettifogger
Inaniloquent
Here Goes! -Flabbergasted
Dear February, You Crack Me Up! -Thunder
"March Maddness" Is About Right -Eschew
There Went April . . . Ooops! -Revolution
And Here's Mays -Zephyr
Mission Accomplished!! -Accomplishment!
"I need to live a little, have some fun" -Flippant
Wedding, Vacation, Writing ..... Education???? -Agathokakological
On To August -Pistachios
Stuff of September Month -Circumlocution
Oh, It's October, isn't it -Conterminous
Another For November . . . barely -Pettifogger
Inaniloquent
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Alex in Wunderstrande: The Clairvoyance Clock
Hiya!!!
Below is the review I posted for a friend of mine's debut novel. This book can be purchased on Amazon.com at: http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Wunderstrande-Clairvoyance-Clock-Book/dp/1463690304/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323060833&sr=1-1
The Clairvoyance Clock by K.M. Parr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A very clever debut novel from KM Parr. The characters are relatable and well crafted and the story is quite a page turner. From gadgets to funny metal creatures and brand new landscapes, KM Parr has created a world of fascination and adventure. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read that holds many surprises and leaves you wanting to read more!
Below is the review I posted for a friend of mine's debut novel. This book can be purchased on Amazon.com at: http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Wunderstrande-Clairvoyance-Clock-Book/dp/1463690304/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323060833&sr=1-1
The Clairvoyance Clock by K.M. ParrMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A very clever debut novel from KM Parr. The characters are relatable and well crafted and the story is quite a page turner. From gadgets to funny metal creatures and brand new landscapes, KM Parr has created a world of fascination and adventure. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read that holds many surprises and leaves you wanting to read more!
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